A devastating landslide struck Jinping Village, located in Junlian County, Yibin city, in southwest China’s Sichuan province, on February 8, 2025. The disaster occurred at 11:50 local time, burying 10 homes and leaving more than 30 people missing. Emergency response efforts were swiftly launched, with over 200 residents evacuated from the affected area to safer locations.
The province quickly escalated the response to a Level I geological disaster emergency, the highest classification, initiated at 15:30 local time. Rescue teams, including search and rescue workers, firefighters, medical teams, and law enforcement, were dispatched to the scene. Two survivors were rescued from the debris on the same day.
In a statement, President Xi Jinping urged authorities to focus on the rapid rescue of trapped individuals and to mitigate any additional risks in the region. “Efforts must be made to uncover hidden hazards, prevent further disasters, and protect lives and property,” Xi emphasized.
The government’s response has also been bolstered by geological experts who are assessing the surrounding terrain’s stability to prevent further landslides. Specialized teams are closely monitoring soil movements and rockfall risks, as the region has experienced previous rockfalls in recent months. Reports from local residents suggest they had heard cracking sounds resembling firecrackers before the landslide occurred.
Li Qiang, China’s Premier, reinforced that preventing secondary disasters and securing the safety of the community are top priorities. Liu Guozhong, Vice Premier, has traveled to Sichuan to oversee the rescue efforts directly.
Meanwhile, the National Development and Reform Commission has allocated ¥50 million (approximately $7 million) to support recovery efforts, focusing on infrastructure repair and public service restoration. The ongoing search for survivors continues, with the situation evolving rapidly as rescue teams work under challenging conditions.
Authorities suspect that a combination of geological instability and seasonal weather changes may have triggered the landslide. Further assessments are underway to fully understand the cause and to prevent future occurrences.
Landslide picture on stockcake
